At any one time, there are half a dozen television shows about flipping houses, and how much fun and lucrative it can be. Well-dressed investors swoop in, buy houses and everyone makes a profit. While flipping houses is on the rise, hitting an eight-year high in 2019, the truth is that it is a painstaking process. If not handled correctly, a house flip may turn into a house flop. Just like any business, house flipping requires knowledge, skill and patience.
What does flipping a house mean?
When someone buys a house to flip, it means they have bought the real estate as an investment rather than to live in. The investor buys a house at a low price, makes capital improvements to the property, and sells it quickly in a hot real estate market. The idea is to move quickly, as to take advantage of the market. Every day the investor holds onto the property, it costs him or her extra money.
Common mistakes to avoid when flipping
One common mistake is that Investors do not conduct enough research about their financing options and do not know which mortgage options will best suit their situation. They also are not realistic about the costs of renovation and can end up spending more on fixing up the house than they expected. As a result, they do not sell the house for the profit they expected to.
Flipping houses takes time and skill. Fixing a house is a time-consuming job, from finding the right property to making the improvements. If someone is working a day job, construction can take even longer. After the improvements are done, inspections have to be scheduled and then showing the house to prospective buyers also takes time.
On top of this are the legal issues associated with buying and selling a home. In addition to contracts associated with buying and selling a home, an investor may also have to enter into agreements with construction companies and subcontractors. To make sure the legal issues associated with flipping houses are covered, it might be beneficial to consult an experienced attorney for guidance.